Method for applying identification marks to a bullet tip during ammunition manufacturing process

ABSTRACT

A system for printing a bullet tip identification includes a bullet support apparatus for holding and rotating a bullet about its longitudinal axis and a print head configured to be positioned in close proximity to a tip of a bullet. The print head is configured to apply an identification around the circumference of the bullet tip while the bullet is rotating about its longitudinal axis. A method of applying identification marks on bullet tip includes positioning a bullet tip in close proximity to a print head and rotating the bullet about a longitudinal axis of the bullet. An identification mark is then applied around the circumference of the bullet tip by the print head as the bullet rotates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/365,570, filed on Jul. 22, 2016, the contents ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ammunition, and more particularly, tosystems and methods for applying identification paint to bullet tips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many different types of ammunition manufactured. To give justa few examples, there are tracer rounds, armor piercing incendiaryrounds, high explosive rounds, and training rounds (and combinations ofthese and other types). It can be difficult to readily distinguishbetween different types of rounds simply from the appearance of thecartridge. Consequently, marking requirements are often put in place toallow those handling and using ammunition to quickly determine the typeof round. Most commonly, this takes the form of colored paint applied tothe tip of the bullet.

In the ammunition manufacturing process, bullet tip identificationpainting is ordinarily performed after the bullet is sealed into thecase. While significant improvements have been made in the rate at whichcartridges can be assembled (for instance, using automatic sealingsystems like those offered by Hernon Manufacturing, Inc.), theapplication of paint to the bullet tip has remained a relatively slow,batch process.

Generally, a group of cartridges is held with bullet tips facing downand dipped in a container of paint to a predetermined depth. The paintmust then be allowed to dry before the cartridges can be packaged. Wherethe type of cartridge dictates multiple color bands on the tip, thedelay is correspondingly multiplied. The color band most distant fromthe tip is applied first, with the cartridges being dipped to a greaterdepth in this color. After drying, the cartridges are dipped to ashallower depth in the next color, which must then also dry. If a thirdcolor is needed, a third iteration of this must occur.

Thus, while equipment exists to allow the filling, assembling andsealing of cartridges at a rapid pace, bullet tip identificationpainting can often be a choke point for ammunition throughput.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide improved systems and methods for printing a bullet tipidentification mark.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system forprinting a bullet tip identification includes a bullet support apparatusfor holding and rotating a bullet about its longitudinal axis and aprint head configured to be positioned in close proximity to a tip of abullet. The print head is configured to apply an identification aroundthe circumference of the bullet tip while the bullet is rotating aboutits longitudinal axis.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method ofapplying identification marks on bullet tip includes positioning abullet tip in close proximity to a print head and rotating the bulletabout a longitudinal axis of the bullet. An identification mark is thenapplied around the circumference of the bullet tip by the print head asthe bullet rotates.

These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present inventionwill be better appreciated in view of the drawings and followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for applying a bullet tipidentification mark;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of area A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is flowchart illustrating a method of applying a bullet tipidentification; and

FIG. 4 is an alternate detail view of area A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the summary of the Invention above and in the description of certainpreferred embodiments, reference is made to particular features(including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood thatthe disclosure of the invention in this specification includes allpossible combinations of such particular features, regardless of whethera combination is explicitly described. For example, where a particularfeature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodimentof the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible,in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspectsand embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein in connection withconventional ammunition cartridges such as those that can be fired froma rifel or handgun. In this context, the drawings illustrate theseembodiments by showing small caliber ammunition cartridges. It is to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specialsize or shape ammunition cartridge that is described. The invention maybe adapted as desired for use with any size or shape ammunitioncartridge. The invention may also be used in on other parts ofammunition cartridge other than bullet tips.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a system 10 for printing a bullet tip identification includesa bullet support apparatus 12 for holding and rotating a bullet 14 aboutits longitudinal axis. A print head 16 is configured to be positioned inclose proximity to a tip 18 of a bullet 14. The print head 16 isconfigured to apply paint around the circumference of the bullet tip 18while the bullet 14 is being rotated about its longitudinal axis. In thedepicted embodiment, the print head 16 is positioned such that thebullet tip 18 passes thereunder and the distance between the print head16 and the circumference of the bullet tip 18 is about 0.039 inches (or1 mm). Other suitable arrangement can be used. Preferably, a cartridge20 including the bullet 14 is held horizontally, or approximatelyhorizontally, and supported such that when the bullet 14 rotates aboutits longitudinal axis 22, the print head 16 can apply paint around thecircumference of the bullet tip 18 to form an identification mark. As anexample, the identification mark includes one or more color bands inorder to identify or differentiate types of ammunition. As anotherexample, the identification mark can also include one or more letters,words, numbers, symbols, designs, logos or the like.

The bullet support apparatus 12 can be configured to hold one or morebullets to be painted in a batch. The bullet support apparatus 12includes a rotating element configured for rotating the bullet 14 orcartridge 20. The bullet support apparatus 12 can further be configuredto translate the bullet 14 or cartridge 20 along its longitudinal axis22 during paint application to increase coverage of identification area.Alternatively, the bullet support apparatus 12 makes little or notranslational movement for the print head 12 or cartridge 20 in thedirection of the longitudinal axis 22.

The print head 16 can be selected from a variety of suitable type ofprinting head, including, but not limited to, spray heads andcontact/pad heads. Spray print head is configured to spray ink from tinynozzles onto the tip of bullet in a controlled manner. The contact/padhead is configured to pressing ink in direct contact with the tip of thebullet.

Advantageously, the print head 12 is configured to print a plurality ofcolors simultaneously or near-simultaneously—for example, a spray headwith multiple nozzles, or contact/pad head with multiple separate pads.

The print head 16 can be configured to supply a plurality of differentpaint types, although UV-curable paint represents a most preferredembodiment. Where UV-curable paint is applied, the cartridge 20 is thenadvanced to a UV-curing machine after the tip identification has beenapplied. The print header 16 can also be an UV-LED print head toincrease UV curing time. The speed of this process thereby allows thepaint tip identification application to be part of a continuous ornear-continuous ammunition manufacturing process.

The print head 16 can also be configured to be stationary or make atranslational move along the longitudinal axis 22 of the bullet 14 orcartridge 20 during painting process. In addition, when the bulletsupport apparatus 12 holds a batch of bullets 14 in parallel, the printhead 16 can also be configured to make a movement perpendicular or at anangle to the longitudinal axis of the bullet 14 or cartridge 20 to paintthe batch of bullets simultaneous or simultaneously.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method of applying identification marks on bullettip includes positioning a bullet tip 18 in close proximity to a printhead at step 302. At step 304, the bullet is rotated about alongitudinal axis 22 of the bullet 14. At step 306, an identificationmark is applied around the circumference of the bullet tip 18 by theprint head as the bullet 14 rotates.

Since paint tip identification is typically applied after sealing thebullet in the case, the system 10 is advantageously integrated into anautomatic sealing machine proximate an exit station thereof.Alternately, the system 10 can be made as an independent machine thatreceives the cartridges (or components) thereof from an automaticsealing machine or other machine of an ammunition manufacturing line.

As noted above, different types of print heads could be advantageouslyused in connection with the present invention, and it could beimplemented at various points in an ammunition manufacturing line. Theabove-described embodiment is provided for illustrative and exemplarypurposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variousmodifications and adaptations to particular circumstances will fallwithin the scope of the invention herein shown and described.

The disclosed systems and methods can apply an identification marksimultaneously or nearly simultaneously, rather than one color band at atime. The disclosed system provides a much faster and efficient processfor applying a bullet tip identification marks on the bullet.

The foregoing is provided for illustrative and exemplary purposes; thepresent invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, as wellas adaptations to particular circumstances, are possible within thescope of the invention as herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of applying identification marks on abullet tip during an ammunition manufacturing process, the methodcomprising: receiving a cartridge from an automatic sealing machine, thecartridge including a bullet sealed in a case; positioning a bullet tipof the bullet in close proximity to a print head; rotating the bulletabout a longitudinal axis of the bullet; applying UV-curable paintaround the circumference of the bullet tip to form an identificationmark by the print head as the bullet rotates; and advancing the catridgewith the identification mark on the bullet tip to a UV-curing machinefor UV curing of the identification mark.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the bullet tip is positioned approximately horizontally.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a plurality of colors are applied to thebullet tip simultaneously.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the paintis applied by a spray print head.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thepaint is applied by a pad print head.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising moving the print head along the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the bullet while rotating the bullet tip.
 7. The method of claim1, further comprising moving the bullet tip along the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the bullet while rotating the bullet tip.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising advancing the cartridge with theidentification mark on the bullet tip to an exit station of theautomatic sealing machine.